The Pack
Disclaimer: Me no own characters.
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Chapter 9
Cloud, it's time to get up now… I heard Squall's voice in my head as I woke.
I flinched a little when a cold, wet nose nuzzled it's way into my neck. 'Don't do that…' I thought.
Wake up kitten. He said and I smiled.
'Good morning…' I thought and opened my eyes.
Good morning. You look exceptionally beautiful this morning. Squall said.
'And why is that? I don't think I look any different… except for the fact that I'm naked…' I mumbled.
Well, that's nice but… you're shining… you smell happy. He said and licked my cheek.
I smiled. "I am happy." I said. "and hungry…"
I wasn't sure what I could get from the city so I looked around the forest. Squall pointed to a pile of berries with his snout.
"Wow… thanks. They look wonderful." I said and picked what looked like a blackberry.
Squall sat and watched me eat. Is it good? He asked.
I couldn't help but think Squall was being cute… it was kind of like a dog trying to please his master… I wouldn't tell him that though…
You don't have to… I READ YOUR THOUGHTS! Squall mumbled grumpily
When I finished the last berry I moved over to him slowly. 'Sorry… I forgot again. Don't be mad.' I smiled and started to pet the sides of his face.
The midnight blue wolf leaned into the touch and licked the mark on my shoulder. I forgive you… just keep petting me.
I smiled and continued to run my fingers through his fur. "Thank you for breakfast." I said and kissed the wolf's head.
Take a bath with me. Squall said and started to move toward the lake. I stood and stretched only to have a sharp pain in my ass and lower back.
'Okay.' I thought as I moved slowly towards the lake.
I watched as Squall submerged under water. When he came up he was in human form. "The water isn't too cold." He said with a small smile.
I walked carefully into the water and shivered a little. 'This water is always going to be as cold as ice during the day…' I thought and swam over to Squall.
"I can't wait to show you off to the rest of the pack… they're going to be jealous." Squall smirked.
"Jealous of what?" I asked.
"You are really glowing Cloud. I'm proud that I could satisfy you." Squall said.
"What are you talking about!" I spluttered with a blush.
"My father told me that a freshly marked mate is supposed to shine brilliantly… I never really understood until now. You're literally exuding positive energy… it smells good and it makes me really happy that I could make you feel and look that way… it's almost…" Squall trailed.
I blushed. "What?"
"It's like you have this sensual charm that you didn't have before… I'll have to fend off the rest of the population… it makes you that desirable." Squall said.
"All because I've been deflowered?" I asked… I don't get it?
"It's confusing… but it's true. It'll make everyone jealous because I have you and nobody else can." Squall said and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
"Strange…" I said simply and turned to face Squall.
"You are so gorgeous…" he said.
I blushed again. "Stop! It's embarrassing." I said and hid my face.
"Don't hide, don't hide… shine…" he said and grabbed my chin.
I smiled. "That sounded really corny…"
"Nonsense… I talk smoothly." He said before kissing me.
I sighed into the kiss… I had never felt so happy in my life. I just felt so good…
Squall held me closer and I wrapped my arms around him, letting one hand play with an ear on his head.
Squall let out a pleasured grunt and we broke from the kiss.
"Sensitive ears… I'll keep that in mind." I said with a smirk.
Squall bit my lip before getting out of the water. "Let's go back to the clearing." He said.
I frowned before moving slowly back out of the water.
"What's wrong?" he asked seeming to smell my reluctance.
"W-well… it hurts to walk… sorry…" I trailed off, feeling a little embarrassed.
"Ohhh…" Squall said finally understanding what I had meant. "I'll carry you." He said seriously.
"But… that makes me feel so girly! Can't we just wait a little?" I asked.
"No. I think I want to carry you." Squall said and got back into the water so he could pull me out.
I swam away from him. "NO. Go back!" I said.
"C'mon kitten. I've already acknowledged your manliness! Why can't I carry you? It's not like your sore muscles are going to get better in fifteen minutes! I don't want you to be in any pain… it's partly my fault anyway."
"Yes… it is. But if you carry me… my pride will be in pain!" I said.
"Cloud. Please." He said looking straight at me…
with puppy dog eyes.
"That's not right! You can't give me that look! You have an advantage because you really are a dog!" I yelped.
Squall whimpered and swam closer.
I grumbled and stood still as he approached. When he caught up to me he wrapped his arms around me and made a purring type noise.
"I love you too but I seriously don't like this idea." I said.
He whimpered again.
I growled.
He whined.
I grunted, giving in.
He yipped and picked me up.
I growled again. "I refuse to be held like some princess! I'm either on your back or walking!" I snapped.
Squall sighed and put me on his back. He hooked his arms around my legs and I wrapped my arms around his neck from behind.
Wait a second…
"Squall! Clothes! I need to put my clothes on!" I yelped and scrambled off of him.
"Damn! I almost had it!" Squall said and picked up our clothing.
He handed me mine. "I like it better when you're naked…"
"Yeah… well, It's okay if I'm naked with you… it's just… I'm sorry… I only want you to see me naked. It's something humans do… they usually don't reveal their naked bodies to anyone except for their lovers… it's an ideal that's been drilled in my head since puberty…" I said feeling guilty.
"I can accept that. I guess I'll put on clothes too." Squall said.
"Thank you for understanding…" I said quietly.
"Hey… it's okay. Please… I don't want you to be sad." Squall said and licked my face.
"Wah!" I laughed and wiped at the spit.
"There we go. Laughter… that's way better than before." Squall said once we were clothed he pulled my back up on his back and we moved swiftly towards the clearing.
-The Pack-
"Whoa…" was what everyone said when we got back. Squall placed me down on a boulder.
"What?" I asked.
"Dude! Why is it that I think you're really sexy after you're taken!" Zack yelled.
Xigbar bonked him on the head… again.
"Hey! Don't hit me! You're thinking the same thing! He's like, shining!" Zack yelled in his defense.
"You were like that after you came back with Xigbar… it was a little different but the same idea." Xemnas said and Riku nodded sitting next to him with a head on his shoulder, watching the kids.
"Cloud! You're really pretty today!" Sora and Kairi commented, large smiles on their faces.
"Thank you guys… but besides being a hundred times happier… nothing has really changed." I said scratching the back of my head.
"Well let me see it!" Zack said and Riku stood as well, approaching me.
"See what?" I asked.
"THE MARK!" they yelled.
"Oh yeah…" I trailed off and pulled my shirt off my shoulder to reveal the mark.
"DAMN! You really sunk your teeth in there! Squall you can see every single tooth in this scar!" Zack said.
"I kind of looks like you tried to bite his arm off…" Riku said.
"I just wanted a mark that would really show… because I want everyone to know he's taken…" Squall said sitting on the ground playing with Sora and Kairi.
"It's okay… I like it…" I said and looked at the scar with a blush.
"You really shouldn't make faces like that…" Xigbar, Zack, and Riku said together.
"Huh? Why?" I asked confused.
"They're very enticing… it's a good thing Squall is good at protecting people… otherwise I think you'd be in trouble." Zack said.
"I really don't understand why everyone keeps saying that…" I said.
"Don't worry yourself over it Cloud. You're not going to get in any trouble here. But when you go back to the city in two days." Xemnas said.
"I'll just take your word for it…" I said and stood. I winced before slowly limping my way towards Squall.
"Cloud… you'll hurt yourself. What are you doing?" he asked, standing up to meet me half way.
"I wanted to sit next to you…" I trailed off, blushing.
"Here, lean on me…" he said and we moved back to his spot.
"Wow… not only did you try to bite his arm off… you impaled him too!" Zack yipped.
"Now see here, -" Squall started.
"I'm okay Zack… Squall was very gentle. But it was still my first time and well, Squall is… rather large… so it wasn't his fault. It's just how it goes. And besides, the pain makes me kind of happy… it tells me that this is really happening and it's not just some dream I had…" I said with a soft smile.
"You're a good mate…" Riku said.
"What?" I asked.
"We've been picking on Squall… and you've been defending him since you got back… it's a good sign." Riku explained.
"Oh well, I just didn't want you to get the wrong idea… Squall isn't mistreating me." I said.
"That's good." Xemnas said.
"Now that you guys are done talking as if I'm not sitting right here…" Squall started. "Isn't there something happening today? A meeting was it?"
"Yes… it'll take place here. But I wouldn't mind patrolling the perimeter of the forest. Just to check and see if there are any traps that we need to be aware of." Xemnas explained.
"Yes." Squall said.
"Meeting? What is this?" I asked.
"Another pack from Twilight Town is passing through and we're letting them stay with us." Zack said.
"Wait… so there are Loup Garou everywhere?" I asked.
"Yes… we've become very good at being undetected." Xemnas said.
"I really can't wait to meet them. This is really exciting!" I yipped.
Well, then I'll go check the perimeter. I'll be back! Zack's voice rang and I turned to see the dark brown wolf trot off.
"Shouldn't someone go with him…" I asked.
"I don't think the person setting the traps would put them so close to the outside of the forest… he would risk hurting a human." Riku said.
"He's not afraid of that though…" I said. "I was caught in one of his traps and he didn't care. I said I would turn him to the police and he just threatened to kill me." I explained.
"That was probably because you were pretty far in the forest so there was no one to witness that happening. If you were near the outside, someone could have seen him and gotten him in trouble." Riku said.
"That's true." I said and turned to Sora and Kairi. "Are you excited about the other pack?" I asked.
"Yes! We are very excited! Maybe there will be puppies like us to play with!" Kairi and Sora yipped.
"Do you not like playing with me?" I asked making a sad face.
"No! No! You're just too big! It's never an even battle!" Sora said.
"I think it's totally fair… there are two of you and only one of me. And you two have sharper teeth and claws! I say it's pretty even." I pointed.
"Well, that's true. Next time we play, we're gonna beat you!" Kairi yipped.
"Okay, once I feel a little better we can play." I said.
You're cute… and good with kids. You'd make a great mom. Squall smirked.
I growled and punched him in the arm. 'Shut up with that!'
Squall yipped. You make it so much fun to annoy you! Look, look, watch. Squall bit my ear lobe and tugged a little.
'Stop!' I thought and pushed him. He moved back and bit my ear again.
I growled and tugged on his ear before smirking.
Squall let go of my ear and hid his now flushed face in my neck. I laughed. "I win. You're ears are your weakness." I said out loud.
Squall nuzzled my neck and sighed. "I love you." He said.
'I love you too.' I thought and rubbed Squall's ears gently.
Squall sighed again in contentment and grabbed the hand that was petting his ears. If you keep doing that, I'll pounce on you. He said seriously.
I yipped and leaned against him. I watched as Sora and Kairi wrestled with Riku. Riku of course had the upper hand but would always leave himself open for attack. It was funny to watch. Sometimes, even if there was an opening, Sora and Kairi were too slow and missed their chance. Sora would pout and Kairi would whine. It was really adorable.
Kids are cute. Squall mumbled, dozing off.
'Yeah…' I thought and watched as Riku grabbed Sora's tail and prevented him from running to help Kairi grab Riku's legs.
"XEMNAS!" Xigbar yelled suddenly.
I jumped, startled by the outburst. "What's wrong?" I asked. Squall stood in alarm.
"Something is wrong with Zack! I can feel it! We have to do something!" Xigbar yelled, looking very stressed.
"He's in a trap." Squall said.
"What!" I yelped.
"I can hear him trying to bite at the metal, listen closely." Squall said. "He's west of us."
"I have to get him out of there!" I yelped and stood. "Squall can you show me where it is?" I asked.
"I'm coming with you!" Xigbar said.
I nodded and we ran quickly through the trees hoping we would get there before that evil man did.
When I saw the trap I frowned.
Xigbar! Cloud! Squall! I'm so sorry! I should have known that piece of meat was bait! I'm sorry! Zack whimpered in panic.
Calm down Zack, we're gonna get you out of there. Don't panic. Xigbar assured.
'I think it's best if you guys stayed hidden.' I thought and moved quickly to the cage.
It was shaped like a pyramid. If the bait was moved off the bottom platform, the sides would rise up and trap anything inside.
"I'm gonna get you out of here Zack!" I said firmly.
Zack whined, feeling distressed.
I looked around the cage. It seemed that all the sides hooked up at the top. It we could tip it over, then I could unhook them and get him out. I thought.
If I jump at the side of the cage while you push it, do you think it will tip? Zack asked.
'We should try.' I thought. 'On three'
One.
Two.
Three.
I ran at the cage, pushing upwards with all my strength. Zack jumped at the wall, his weight the final key in tipping it over.
"YES!" I yelled and ran to the top of the cage to see if I could unhook it.
I frowned when the cage wouldn't budge. I needed something to break the hook keeping the cage together.
Suddenly out of nowhere a large rock hit the ground next to me.
Use that. Xigbar's voice rang in my head.
'Thanks.' I said and lifted the rock. I brought it down onto the hook with all my strength.
It only budged a little.
I wiped at the sweat on my forehead. Adrenaline was flowing through me. I was nervous and frightened and I felt rushed…
Try it again. Please. Xigbar's voice, pleading.
You can do it, Cloud. Again. Squall's voice this time.
I nodded and steeled myself. I lifted the rock and pounded it repeatedly on the hook until it actually broke off. I threw the rock aside and pulled the cage wall up and Zack jumped out.
Thank you, Cloud. Thank you! I heard as he ran towards a group of bushes farther away.
I watched the grey and black wolf jump out of the bushes and nuzzle Zack's brown fur.
I smiled at the scene and made my way towards them.
Thank you, Cloud. I can't even tell you how grateful I am. Xigbar said and licked Zack's snout.
Are you okay? Squall asked and I turned to look at him.
I nodded. 'I'm alright. My lower back and stuff don't hurt that much anymore. But I don't think I want to run too much after this.'
I'm glad you're okay. Let's go back. The pack from Twilight will just have to be careful coming in the forest. Squall said and we all walked back.
"I was getting worried. I'm happy you are all unharmed. We didn't run into any trouble did we?" Xemnas asked
"No. The guy putting up the traps wasn't there." Squall said.
"Good."
"Being stuck in those cages… it's not… it's scary. I d-don't want that to happen again…"Zack said.
Xigbar pulled Zack into a hug, his fingers running through his hair. "You're free and you're safe, Zack. It's okay now." Xigbar comforted.
I smiled at the pair. It was really heartwarming to see them together after such a scare. I was surprised by Xigbar's sudden tenderness in comparison to the brute strength he usually represented. I could tell how frightened he was at the fact that his mate was trapped, but that didn't lessen the power he symbolized. His determination and willingness to stay by Zack until he was out of the cage only made him stronger in my eyes. He was quite an admirable person.
'They're really great aren't they?' I thought and looked to Squall.
Yes, they are. And so are you. Thank you very much. Squall said and wrapped his arms around me.
'I'm the mate of the second in command. I want to do whatever it takes to help protect the pack and everything precious to it.' I thought with a smile.
"You are so perfect." Squall said. Looking at me with shining blue-grey eyes.
"I try…" I said and pressed our lips together.
A/N: Yay! If I get ten more reviews I can do another update! Let's try for three updates in one day! WE CAN DO IT!